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Economy of Ireland vs United States compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has a GDP of $609B compared to $28.8T for the United States, ranking 25/197 and 1/197 by economy size, respectively.

Ireland has $250B in government debt (34.3% of GDP), compared to $34.7T (123.7% of GDP) in the United States.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Ireland
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
United States
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Ireland United States
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 $1,998,550,222 $24,110,313,424 $541,988,586,207 $3,414,529,777,329
1961 $2,151,772,980 $25,319,727,520 $561,940,310,345 $3,493,063,962,207
1962 $2,329,372,972 $26,134,122,485 $603,639,413,793 $3,706,140,863,902
1963 $2,505,073,358 $27,374,091,003 $637,058,551,724 $3,869,211,061,913
1964 $2,851,091,646 $28,410,463,564 $684,144,620,690 $4,093,625,303,504
1965 $3,035,655,794 $28,959,765,672 $741,904,862,069 $4,355,617,322,929
1966 $3,198,820,904 $29,218,403,167 $813,032,758,621 $4,638,732,448,919
1967 $3,445,739,915 $30,908,893,565 $859,620,034,483 $4,754,700,760,142
1968 $3,378,701,147 $33,457,000,744 $940,225,000,000 $4,982,926,396,629
1969 $3,902,721,632 $35,418,870,779 $1,017,438,172,414 $5,137,397,114,924
1970 $4,395,995,086 $36,361,200,213 $1,073,303,000,000 $5,148,525,050,913
1971 $5,098,250,287 $37,622,893,379 $1,164,850,000,000 $5,318,051,691,111
1972 $6,318,060,582 $40,064,546,829 $1,279,110,000,000 $5,597,542,001,855
1973 $7,481,173,066 $41,956,165,577 $1,425,376,000,000 $5,913,561,297,888
1974 $7,896,860,615 $43,743,594,856 $1,545,243,000,000 $5,881,595,530,901
1975 $9,483,808,362 $46,218,015,395 $1,684,904,000,000 $5,869,501,841,745
1976 $9,453,756,015 $46,862,667,362 $1,873,412,000,000 $6,185,752,591,778
1977 $11,248,340,431 $50,710,701,806 $2,081,826,000,000 $6,471,793,328,423
1978 $14,647,996,074 $54,355,141,813 $2,351,599,000,000 $6,830,020,452,268
1979 $18,319,334,300 $56,025,495,103 $2,627,333,000,000 $7,046,258,095,085
1980 $21,747,855,640 $57,750,704,523 $2,857,307,000,000 $7,028,165,014,325
1981 $20,670,190,138 $59,671,040,951 $3,207,041,000,000 $7,206,518,847,031
1982 $21,474,752,962 $61,033,610,334 $3,343,789,000,000 $7,076,584,318,487
1983 $20,766,047,764 $60,884,504,483 $3,634,038,000,000 $7,400,960,152,427
1984 $20,106,648,455 $63,535,642,712 $4,037,613,000,000 $7,936,527,167,598
1985 $21,270,013,326 $65,496,107,817 $4,338,979,000,000 $8,267,446,647,786
1986 $28,714,571,852 $65,215,568,204 $4,579,631,000,000 $8,553,719,807,216
1987 $33,920,518,493 $68,256,629,227 $4,855,215,000,000 $8,849,219,149,442
1988 $37,772,896,221 $71,817,859,763 $5,236,438,000,000 $9,218,849,474,658
1989 $39,238,392,678 $75,993,292,636 $5,641,580,000,000 $9,557,387,553,833
1990 $49,305,632,408 $82,427,285,856 $5,963,144,000,000 $9,737,636,593,625
1991 $49,787,501,584 $84,017,835,878 $6,158,129,000,000 $9,727,089,478,756
1992 $55,918,538,121 $86,826,782,446 $6,520,327,000,000 $10,069,725,930,662
1993 $52,417,477,614 $89,164,687,696 $6,858,559,000,000 $10,346,824,232,650
1994 $57,097,656,066 $94,296,853,731 $7,287,236,000,000 $10,763,700,132,799
1995 $69,139,823,232 $103,381,809,954 $7,639,749,000,000 $11,052,644,207,040
1996 $75,790,786,290 $111,010,999,493 $8,073,122,000,000 $11,469,635,349,339
1997 $82,856,648,758 $123,246,371,072 $8,577,554,457,000 $11,979,704,707,078
1998 $90,199,410,116 $134,050,299,131 $9,062,818,202,000 $12,516,770,844,481
1999 $98,893,958,263 $148,165,642,333 $9,631,174,489,000 $13,116,127,034,705
2000 $100,207,610,430 $162,098,435,202 $10,250,947,997,000 $13,650,948,362,520
2001 $109,346,669,230 $170,699,088,561 $10,581,929,774,000 $13,781,388,409,036
2002 $128,596,035,288 $180,769,250,950 $10,929,112,955,000 $14,015,733,659,784
2003 $164,670,771,260 $186,217,344,582 $11,456,442,041,000 $14,407,558,345,763
2004 $194,372,115,041 $198,858,038,462 $12,217,193,198,000 $14,961,928,297,814
2005 $211,876,989,656 $210,272,056,411 $13,039,199,193,000 $15,483,134,541,390
2006 $232,180,617,162 $220,760,118,842 $13,815,586,948,000 $15,914,268,559,669
2007 $270,079,279,420 $232,482,742,332 $14,474,226,905,000 $16,233,167,950,744
2008 $275,447,471,451 $222,058,051,544 $14,769,857,911,000 $16,251,606,759,788
2009 $236,443,115,854 $210,742,455,593 $14,478,064,934,000 $15,832,884,074,311
2010 $221,732,824,603 $214,289,191,597 $15,048,964,444,000 $16,259,610,790,677
2011 $240,975,871,047 $217,736,818,590 $15,599,728,123,000 $16,513,977,256,911
2012 $226,921,827,888 $216,854,920,424 $16,253,972,230,000 $16,892,000,920,976
2013 $242,924,245,719 $221,610,413,457 $16,843,190,993,000 $17,249,744,800,618
2014 $266,490,442,124 $242,410,308,909 $17,550,680,174,000 $17,685,097,277,698
2015 $302,101,388,556 $302,101,388,556 $18,206,020,741,000 $18,206,020,741,000
2016 $305,431,252,709 $305,795,232,417 $18,695,110,842,000 $18,537,270,454,436
2017 $348,355,212,569 $336,707,637,030 $19,477,336,549,000 $18,992,846,546,662
2018 $395,780,319,817 $362,595,940,329 $20,533,057,312,000 $19,556,270,302,218
2019 $407,211,793,801 $380,627,401,463 $21,380,976,119,000 $20,061,570,168,698
2020 $436,009,027,819 $407,856,325,068 $21,060,473,613,000 $19,627,632,559,935
2021 $530,394,123,830 $474,166,373,640 $23,315,080,560,000 $20,816,096,100,825
2022 $548,341,794,599 $509,781,668,506 $25,604,848,907,611 $21,339,074,561,820
2023 $567,372,737,459 $496,851,698,334 $27,292,170,793,214 $21,955,252,291,274
2024 $609,157,459,747 $509,767,195,342 $28,750,956,130,731 $22,568,462,768,174

Economic indicators

Ireland United States
Gross domestic product
$609B
2024
$28.8T
2024
GDP rank
25/197
2024
1/197
2024
GDP growth
7.36%
2023-2024
5.35%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$112,895
2024
$84,534
2024
GDP per capita rank
4/197
2024
10/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$130,797
2024
$85,810
2024
Government debt
$250B
2024
$34.7T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
34.3%
2026
123.7%
2026
Government debt per person
$46,415
2024
$102,105
2024
Government debt per person rank
11/185
2024
2/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$44,579
2026
$54,474
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$110B
2018
$62.2T
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
21,951,319
2024
Number of billionaires
11
2025
902
2025
Income share by richest 10%
24.1%
2023
30.4%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
1.8%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24.2%
2026
38%
2026
Consumer prices inflation
2.11%
2023-2024
2.95%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.25%
2025
Unemployment rate
4.27%
2024
4.02%
2024
Population
5500964
343682585

GDP per capita in Ireland vs United States

Ireland's GDP per capita is $112,895, ranking 4/197, compared to $84,534 in the United States, ranking 10/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Ireland ranks 4th at $130,797, while the United States ranks 11th at $85,810.

Ireland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United States
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Ireland United States
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 $707 - $3,000 -
1961 $762 - $3,059 -
1962 $821 - $3,236 -
1963 $878 - $3,366 -
1964 $995 - $3,565 -
1965 $1,055 - $3,818 -
1966 $1,107 - $4,136 -
1967 $1,187 - $4,326 -
1968 $1,159 - $4,685 -
1969 $1,331 - $5,020 -
1970 $1,487 - $5,234 -
1971 $1,704 - $5,609 -
1972 $2,080 - $6,094 -
1973 $2,424 - $6,726 -
1974 $2,517 - $7,226 -
1975 $2,973 - $7,801 -
1976 $2,920 - $8,592 -
1977 $3,427 - $9,453 -
1978 $4,400 - $10,565 -
1979 $5,430 - $11,674 -
1980 $6,372 - $12,613 -
1981 $5,986 - $13,976 -
1982 $6,161 - $14,434 -
1983 $5,915 - $15,544 -
1984 $5,692 - $17,121 -
1985 $6,012 - $18,237 -
1986 $8,112 - $19,071 -
1987 $9,582 - $20,039 -
1988 $10,716 - $21,417 -
1989 $11,176 - $22,857 -
1990 $14,031 $13,734 $23,840 $23,889
1991 $14,087 $14,389 $24,293 $24,342
1992 $15,714 $15,106 $25,381 $25,419
1993 $14,657 $15,801 $26,353 $26,387
1994 $15,903 $17,000 $27,662 $27,695
1995 $19,158 $18,932 $28,661 $28,691
1996 $20,836 $20,474 $29,937 $29,968
1997 $22,551 $22,632 $31,430 $31,459
1998 $24,295 $25,092 $32,823 $32,854
1999 $26,338 $27,041 $34,484 $34,515
2000 $26,335 $30,209 $36,330 $36,330
2001 $28,282 $32,577 $37,134 $37,134
2002 $32,705 $35,222 $37,998 $37,998
2003 $41,204 $36,285 $39,490 $39,490
2004 $47,754 $38,734 $41,725 $41,725
2005 $50,933 $40,466 $44,123 $44,123
2006 $54,329 $44,232 $46,302 $46,302
2007 $61,396 $46,784 $48,050 $48,050
2008 $61,353 $44,169 $48,570 $48,570
2009 $52,133 $41,470 $47,195 $47,195
2010 $48,624 $43,217 $48,651 $48,643
2011 $52,614 $45,526 $50,066 $50,025
2012 $49,336 $46,726 $51,784 $51,708
2013 $52,538 $48,839 $53,291 $53,297
2014 $57,215 $52,641 $55,124 $55,153
2015 $64,250 $71,607 $56,763 $56,849
2016 $64,130 $73,013 $57,867 $57,977
2017 $72,161 $80,450 $59,908 $60,048
2018 $80,804 $86,299 $62,823 $62,876
2019 $81,828 $92,023 $65,120 $65,228
2020 $86,514 $97,800 $63,526 $64,402
2021 $103,783 $116,904 $70,249 $71,307
2022 $105,191 $136,104 $76,829 $77,861
2023 $106,819 $124,808 $81,490 $82,305
2024 $112,895 $130,797 $84,534 $85,810

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Ireland's government spending was $143B, accounting for 24.2% of its GDP, while the United States' spent $10.8T, or 38% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 34.3% in Ireland and 123.7% in the United States, ranking 150/185 and 11/185, respectively.

Ireland
Government spending

Government debt
United States
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Ireland United States
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1960 29.1% 44.9% 24.9% 61.7%
1961 31.4% 44.3% 25.9% 62.3%
1962 31.7% 44.5% 26% 60.2%
1963 33.6% 45.2% 26% 58.8%
1964 34.8% 43.1% 25.6% 56.7%
1965 35.8% 44.6% 25.4% 53.7%
1966 36.9% 47.7% 26.3% 50.6%
1967 39.3% 47.1% 28.3% 50.4%
1968 40% 44.7% 29.1% 48.5%
1969 42.5% 42.6% 29.3% 45.9%
1970 44.1% 41.7% 31.5% 46.4%
1971 45.3% 39.8% 32.3% 47%
1972 41.5% 37.3% 32.8% 45.4%
1973 40.3% 35.1% 31.9% 42.6%
1974 44.3% 43.5% 32.9% 41.4%
1975 48.2% 48.3% 35.2% 44.6%
1976 47.8% 51.7% 34.2% 44.8%
1977 44.6% 49.2% 33.4% 43.6%
1978 46.2% 50.6% 32.6% 42.5%
1979 48.7% 63.5% 32% 41.2%
1980 53.7% 64.6% 33.7% 41.9%
1981 54.1% 68.8% 33.9% 41.1%
1982 56.7% 73.5% 35.8% 45.9%
1983 55.6% 86.1% 35.7% 48.9%
1984 52.7% 90.2% 34.3% 50.6%
1985 53.2% 93% 34.5% 55.4%
1986 52.9% 107.2% 34.8% 58.9%
1987 51.4% 108.3% 34.3% 60.6%
1988 48.2% 106.5% 33.7% 61.3%
1989 42.5% 97.9% 33.7% 61.6%
1990 44.6% 92.7% 34.5% 63.1%
1991 46.1% 93.8% 35.7% 67.9%
1992 46.8% 90.6% 36.7% 70.3%
1993 44.6% 93.4% 36.4% 71.9%
1994 44.2% 88% 35.5% 71.1%
1995 40.3% 78.5% 35.5% 70.7%
1996 38.5% 69.8% 34.7% 69.9%
1997 36.1% 61.6% 33.7% 67.4%
1998 34.2% 51.4% 32.8% 64.2%
1999 32.5% 46.6% 32.2% 60.5%
2000 30.6% 36.4% 31.7% 54.5%
2001 32.2% 33.6% 32.8% 53.3%
2002 32.9% 30.9% 33.7% 55.7%
2003 32.7% 29.8% 34% 58.8%
2004 32.8% 28.1% 33.7% 66.3%
2005 33% 26.1% 33.9% 65.6%
2006 33.6% 23.7% 33.7% 64.3%
2007 35.6% 23.9% 34.6% 64.7%
2008 41.6% 42.5% 37.1% 73.6%
2009 46.9% 61.8% 41.4% 86.8%
2010 64.9% 86.1% 39.8% 95.3%
2011 46.8% 109.4% 38.8% 99.7%
2012 42.2% 118.7% 37.2% 103.2%
2013 39.8% 117.5% 35.8% 104.5%
2014 36.5% 101.3% 35.3% 104.4%
2015 28% 74% 35% 104.9%
2016 27.5% 72.6% 35.3% 106.8%
2017 25.3% 65.2% 35.2% 105.7%
2018 24.8% 61.5% 35.3% 107%
2019 23.9% 55.9% 35.8% 108.2%
2020 26.7% 57% 44.8% 132%
2021 23.6% 52.6% 43.2% 124.7%
2022 20.6% 43.1% 36.8% 118.8%
2023 22.7% 43.3% 37.1% 119%
2024 23.4% 41.1% 37.6% 120.8%
2025 23.9% 36.7% 37.8% 122.5%
2026 24.2% 34.3% 38% 123.7%

Government deficit by year

In 2024, Ireland's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $26.7B, equivalent to 4.38% of GDP. This compares to the United States' deficit of -$2.09T, or -7.26% of GDP.

Over the past 65 years, Ireland recorded a fiscal deficit in 50 of those years, while the United States ran a deficit in 51 years. On average, Ireland posted an annual deficit equal to -4.14% of GDP, compared to deficit of -2.72% of GDP for the United States.

Deficit/surplus
Ireland

United States
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Ireland United States
1800 - 0.01%
1801 - 0.67%
1802 - 1.46%
1803 - 0.66%
1804 - 0.58%
1805 - 0.52%
1806 - 0.95%
1807 - 1.43%
1808 - 1.55%
1809 - -0.5%
1810 - 0.21%
1811 - 1.1%
1812 - -1.84%
1813 - -2.78%
1814 - -3.36%
1815 - -2.09%
1816 - 2%
1817 - 1.33%
1818 - 0.22%
1819 - 0.42%
1820 - -0.06%
1821 - -0.2%
1822 - 0.74%
1823 - 0.83%
1824 - -0.13%
1825 - 0.7%
1826 - 0.93%
1827 - 0.79%
1828 - 0.95%
1829 - 1.06%
1830 - 1.04%
1831 - 1.24%
1832 - 1.26%
1833 - 0.84%
1834 - 0.24%
1835 - 1.09%
1836 - 1.05%
1837 - -0.67%
1838 - -0.43%
1839 - 0.24%
1840 - -0.28%
1841 - -0.56%
1842 - -0.31%
1843 - -0.22%
1844 - 0.38%
1845 - 0.36%
1846 - 0.09%
1847 - -1.32%
1848 - -0.41%
1849 - -0.59%
1850 - 0.16%
1851 - 0.18%
1852 - 0.19%
1853 - 0.39%
1854 - 0.41%
1855 - 0.14%
1856 - 0.11%
1857 - 0.03%
1858 - -0.68%
1859 - -0.36%
1860 - -0.16%
1861 - -0.54%
1862 - -7.67%
1863 - -8.2%
1864 - -6.3%
1865 - -10.2%
1866 - 0.41%
1867 - 1.5%
1868 - 0.33%
1869 - 0.56%
1870 - 1.25%
1871 - 1.14%
1872 - 1.03%
1873 - 0.47%
1874 - 0.03%
1875 - 0.16%
1876 - 0.33%
1877 - 0.44%
1878 - 0.23%
1879 - 0.07%
1880 - 0.55%
1881 - 0.85%
1882 - 1.08%
1883 - 1.06%
1884 - 0.85%
1885 - 0.52%
1886 - 0.7%
1887 - 0.75%
1888 - 0.82%
1889 - 0.6%
1890 - 0.59%
1891 - 0.17%
1892 - 0.06%
1893 - 0.02%
1894 - -0.45%
1895 - -0.2%
1896 - -0.09%
1897 - -0.11%
1898 - -0.23%
1899 - -0.48%
1900 - 0.24%
1901 - 0.29%
1902 - 0.35%
1903 - 0.18%
1904 - -0.18%
1905 - -0.09%
1906 - 0.08%
1907 - 0.28%
1908 - -0.22%
1909 - -0.29%
1910 - -0.06%
1911 - 0.03%
1912 - 0.008%
1913 - -0.001%
1914 - -0.001%
1915 - -0.17%
1916 - 0.11%
1917 - -1.64%
1918 - -13.5%
1919 - -17.5%
1920 - 0.33%
1921 - 0.69%
1922 - 1.01%
1923 - 0.84%
1924 - 1.11%
1925 - 0.78%
1926 -1.95% 0.89%
1927 -1.95% 1.19%
1928 -1.95% 0.97%
1929 -3.41% -4.58%
1930 -3.41% -5.46%
1931 -1.63% -9.76%
1932 -1.63% -12.7%
1933 2.97% -14.3%
1934 2.97% -14.9%
1935 2.97% -13.3%
1936 -0.19% -12.1%
1937 -0.77% -9.22%
1938 -0.92% -10.4%
1939 -7.31% -11.9%
1940 -0.15% -9.73%
1941 -1.42% -10.2%
1942 -2.48% -16.3%
1943 -1.18% -19.3%
1944 0.39% -13.4%
1945 -0.43% -14.1%
1946 -0.43% -6.45%
1947 -1.8% -3.99%
1948 -1.29% -4.16%
1949 -2.17% -7.94%
1950 -5.21% -8.22%
1951 -4.62% -6.93%
1952 -7.84% -5.41%
1953 -5.77% -5.76%
1954 -5.28% -5.55%
1955 -5.06% -7.4%
1956 -3.23% -6.02%
1957 -5.19% -6.72%
1958 -4.3% -8.68%
1959 -2.16% -9.06%
1960 -1.97% 3.2%
1961 -2.6% 2.28%
1962 -2.91% 2.32%
1963 -2.92% 2.87%
1964 -3.35% 2.18%
1965 -3.5% 2.38%
1966 -2.26% 2.07%
1967 -2.69% 0.47%
1968 -2.72% 1.23%
1969 -3.4% 2.11%
1970 -3.64% -1.21%
1971 -3.5% -2.63%
1972 -3.23% -1.86%
1973 -3.84% -0.86%
1974 -6.96% -1.27%
1975 -11.1% -5.4%
1976 -7.34% -3.63%
1977 -6.44% -2.57%
1978 -8.27% -1.7%
1979 -10% -0.79%
1980 -11.1% -2.17%
1981 -12.1% -1.58%
1982 -13.1% -3.78%
1983 -11.5% -4.26%
1984 -9.43% -2.97%
1985 -10.7% -2.63%
1986 -10.5% -2.81%
1987 -8.47% -1.53%
1988 -4.62% -1.06%
1989 -2.64% -0.8%
1990 -2.69% -1.64%
1991 -2.8% -2.72%
1992 -2.84% -3.98%
1993 -2.62% -3.35%
1994 -1.82% -2.05%
1995 -2.07% -1.7%
1996 -0.2% -0.46%
1997 1.37% 0.88%
1998 2.07% 2.18%
1999 3.54% 2.71%
2000 4.86% 3.62%
2001 0.96% -0.54%
2002 -0.52% -3.82%
2003 0.35% -4.77%
2004 1.3% -4.24%
2005 1.57% -3.07%
2006 2.78% -2.04%
2007 0.27% -2.91%
2008 -7.03% -6.61%
2009 -13.9% -13.2%
2010 -32.1% -11%
2011 -13.5% -9.72%
2012 -8.4% -8.11%
2013 -6.27% -4.56%
2014 -3.51% -4.03%
2015 -1.97% -3.53%
2016 -0.76% -4.36%
2017 -0.3% -4.79%
2018 0.09% -5.33%
2019 0.41% -5.81%
2020 -4.88% -14.1%
2021 -1.4% -11.4%
2022 1.65% -3.7%
2023 1.48% -7.16%
2024 4.38% -7.26%
2025 1.69% -6.46%
2026 1.6% -5.49%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 28 years, Ireland has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.18%, compared with 2.52% in the United States. In 2024, inflation was 2.11% in Ireland and 2.95% in the United States.

Inflation
Ireland

United States
Year Inflation
Ireland United States
1997 1.54% 2.34%
1998 2.41% 1.55%
1999 1.63% 2.19%
2000 5.58% 3.38%
2001 4.85% 2.83%
2002 4.63% 1.59%
2003 3.49% 2.27%
2004 2.18% 2.68%
2005 2.46% 3.39%
2006 3.94% 3.23%
2007 4.89% 2.85%
2008 4.04% 3.84%
2009 -4.45% -0.36%
2010 -0.92% 1.64%
2011 2.55% 3.16%
2012 1.69% 2.07%
2013 0.52% 1.46%
2014 0.19% 1.62%
2015 -0.33% 0.12%
2016 0.02% 1.26%
2017 0.36% 2.13%
2018 0.47% 2.44%
2019 0.94% 1.81%
2020 -0.33% 1.23%
2021 2.34% 4.7%
2022 7.83% 8%
2023 6.3% 4.12%
2024 2.11% 2.95%

Top exports between countries

Ireland
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $63.1B
IT & IP services $19B
Business & finance services $14B
Machinery & equipment $12.8B
Transport & tourism services $2.16B
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.27B
Manufacturing & construction services $871M
Animal & marine products $757M
Textiles & consumer goods $211M
Precious metals & jewellery $167M
United States
Export category Export value
Business & finance services $52.5B
IT & IP services $29.8B
Machinery & equipment $6.88B
Chemicals & pharma $6.1B
Transport & tourism services $1.77B
Raw materials & minerals $1.12B
Textiles & consumer goods $657M
Miscellaneous $599M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $491M
Metals $279M

Balance of trade

Ireland United States
Current account balance
$106B
2024
-$1.19T
2024
Current account balance ranking
6/190
2024
190/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+17.4%
2024
-4.12%
2024
Goods imports
$165B
2024
$3.3T
2024
Goods exports
$356B
2024
$2.08T
2024
Service imports
$467B
2024
$841B
2024
Service exports
$526B
2024
$1.15T
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
102.2%
2024
14.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
144%
2024
11.1%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Ireland United States
Economic freedom 83.1 70.2
Economic freedom ranking 3/197 34/197
Property rights 94.1 95.4
Government integrity 84 77.3
Judicial effectiveness 95.5 76.6
Tax burden 77.6 75.6
Government spending 85.1 55.8
Fiscal health 95.8 0
Business freedom 88.1 88.5
Labor freedom 62.4 77
Monetary freedom 75 70.7
Trade freedom 79.6 75.6
Investment freedom 90 70
Financial freedom 70 80

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Ireland is 83.1, ranking 3/197, compared to 70.2 for the United States, ranking 34/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Ireland
United States
Year Economic freedom index
Ireland United States
1995 68.5 76.7
1996 68.5 76.7
1997 72.6 75.6
1998 73.7 75.4
1999 74.6 75.5
2000 76.1 76.4
2001 81.2 79.1
2002 80.5 78.4
2003 80.9 78.2
2004 80.3 78.7
2005 80.8 79.9
2006 82.2 81.2
2007 82.6 81.2
2008 82.5 81
2009 82.2 80.7
2010 81.3 78
2011 78.7 77.8
2012 76.9 76.3
2013 75.7 76
2014 76.2 75.5
2015 76.6 76.2
2016 77.3 75.4
2017 76.7 75.1
2018 80.4 75.7
2019 80.5 76.8
2020 80.9 76.6
2021 81.4 74.8
2022 82 72.1
2023 82 70.6
2024 82.6 70.1
2025 83.1 70.2

More economic indicators

Ireland United States
Services, % of GDP
60.6%
2024
79.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.6%
2024
17.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.02%
2024
0.85%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$435B
2024
$28.4T
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$99,180
2024
$85,980
2024
Total reserves including gold
$12.7B
2024
$910B
2024
Total reserves ranking
73/177
2024
3/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$62.3B
2024
$25.1B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.82B
2024
$297B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$67.1B
2024
$322B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
14%
2021
15.1%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
18.2%
2024
21.8%
2024

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Economy comparisons

Economy vs Ireland vs United States
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The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.